[Third Person's PoV]
"🎶🎵 ON THE ROAD AGAIN~ 🎶🎵" Lucian sang in an exaggerated Southern drawl, tugging Sebastián by the reins as he strolled down the sidewalk in a black cowboy hat and boots.
The rest of the group followed slowly, staring at him with bewildernt as Lucian happily marched ahead.
"Has Lucian officially lost it?" Clarisse asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Annabeth sighed. "My best guess? He's just really happy he's got the horse."
"Oh, really?" Thalia said sarcastically. "What gave it away? Was it his singing, or the ridiculous cowboy hat and boots he bought?"
Percy raised a brow. "So, why exactly are we taking the train? And why is no one freaking out that Lucian is casually leading a horse through the city?"
Annabeth nodded toward Percy. "To your first question, we're taking the westbound train. It'll drop us where we need to go, and none of us want to risk taking the bus again. Flying isn't an option for… obvious reasons."
Thalia chid in, "As for your second question, Lucian is controlling the Mist. To the average person, he's just walking a German Shepherd."
"Why does Lucian have so many abilities?!" Clarisse exclaid in frustration.
"That ability is actually shared by all children of the Big Three," Thalia explained. Percy looked at her in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yeah, though I don't use it much. I'm not as proficient as Lucian. But I can manage it, thanks to training from his mother and Chiron."
"I see, so I should—"
"🎶🎵 ON THE ROAD AGAIN~ 🎶🎵"
"Neighhhhhh!"
Lucian tipped his hat, still in character. "Grover, what did my partner just say?"
Grover shook his head with a chuckle. "He's singing with you…"
"Phew-weeee, got the voice of an angel, don't he?" Lucian said, patting Sebastián on the face.
Thalia massaged her forehead when she noticed Lucian now had a toothpick dangling from his mouth.
"Why is he like this?" Percy asked, watching Lucian adjust his belt buckle and adopt an exaggerated swagger.
"Was he dropped on his head as a baby?" Clarisse asked, genuinely curious.
They soon reached the train station. "Lucian, put him away. He's not coming on the train," Annabeth said, exasperated.
"Wha– He could fit!" Lucian protested, breaking character as he resisted parting with his steed.
"Lucian, be reasonable," Annabeth said, giving him a stern look.
"I am being reasonable! I don't want to leave Sebastián behind. I was going to show him what it's like riding the expressway."
"I'll tell your mother you were being unreasonable on this quest," Annabeth threatened.
"You wouldn't– You can't– Why would you—URGH! Gosh darn it!" Lucian exclaid, snatching his hat off and stomping in frustration.
He stood in front of Sebastián, pressing their heads together , scratching under the horse's chin. "I'm sorry, partner. That witch doesn't like happiness and doesn't want us riding into the sunset together… Until next ti, old friend," he said dramatically, sinking Sebastián into his shadow.
Annabeth crossed her arms. "What did you just call ?"
"You heard . Wicked witch," Lucian grumbled.
Rolling her eyes, Annabeth gestured at him. "And change your outfit. You look ridiculous."
"Yes, mom…" Lucian sighed as he used his Mist abilities to change his clothes. He now wore black jeans, a black sweater, and a hood pulled over his head, his hands tucked into his sweater pockets.
"What the hell am I looking at?" Percy muttered to Grover.
"Your guess is as good as mine…"
They purchased their tickets, and Lucian, now moping, led them onto the train, muttering, "I miss my steed…"
As they made their way down the rows of seats, a woman carrying a doggy bag raised her hand with a friendly smile. "Excuse —"
"I'm not in the mood to entertain you…" Lucian grumbled, summoning his scythe and swiftly decapitating her. He then transford the weapon into a spear and impaled the doggy bag before reverting it back into a ring. He continued walking, kicking his feet lazily.
"Sigh…"
"LUCIAN?!?!" the group scread in horror, stunned by what they had just witnessed.
Percy rushed over, grabbing Lucian by the shoulders. "What the hell is your problem?!"
Lucian raised a brow and motioned with his thumb toward the woman. They all turned and watched as she dissolved into golden dust.
"What… Who was that?" Thalia asked, still in shock.
"Echidna, the mother of monsters."
They all paled in horror. "How did you know?" Annabeth asked.
"My Insight… plus, she had a baby monster in her purse. Only she would be carrying sothing like that."
Clarisse, now calr, nodded slowly. "So all of that was just an act to catch her off guard. Not the most honorable tactic, but effective."
Lucian shrugged. "Two things. One, I wasn't acting. I'm genuinely upset that I had to put Sebastián away. I only t that horse an hour ago, but if anything happens to him, I'm going on a rampage." He shot a glare at Annabeth, causing her to groan in frustration.
"And two, aren't you the daughter of the god of war? Isn't 'all's fair in love and war' your whole thing?"
Clarisse scoffed. "We're not at war, are we?"
Lucian smirked. "We're in the prelude of one… Now, co on. Let's stop standing around like idiots."
As Lucian walked away with his hands in his pockets, the others followed close behind. His eyes glowed faintly as he muttered, "Arise…"
Two shadows slithered past their feet, unnoticed, before rging with Lucian's.
They finally settled into their seats around a small table. The tension from earlier still hung in the air, but they pressed on, preparing for what lay ahead.
Lucian, sensing the tension, pulled a few snacks from his shadow and laid them out on the table. "Anyone hungry for so snacks?" he asked with a grin.
"Ohhh, that doesn't sound bad," Thalia said, grabbing a piece of chocolate.
"You got anything blue?" Percy asked.
Lucian rummaged through the pile and held up a blue Jolly Rancher. "This one, I suppose."
Percy accepted it with a nod of approval.
"Can I have the wrappers?" Grover asked hopefully, and everyone complied without hesitation, passing them over.
Clarisse, eyeing the selection, furrowed her brow. "How do you seriously have no spicy candies?"
Everyone froze and turned to her in surprise.
"What?" she said, clearly confused by the stares.
Lucian looked at her incredulously. "I can't believe you just asked that. There's no way I'd buy spicy candy—it's disgusting."
"Your face is disgusting," Clarisse shot back, crossing her arms. "Spicy candy is actually good if you know which ones to buy."
Percy grinned, jumping in. "Let guess, your next favorite flavor is sour?"
Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Yeah? And what's wrong with that?"
"You just like tasting pain, don't you?" Percy shook his head, amused.
"There are plenty of good sour candies," Clarisse retorted with a scoff.
"Oh yeah?" Percy challenged. "Na one."
"Sour Skittles," she replied instantly.
Percy blinked. "Ah, she got you there, man," Lucian teased.
"I bet she can't na another one," Percy said, raising an eyebrow.
"Sour Patch Kids," Clarisse fired back without missing a beat.
Thalia chuckled. "Percy, she's cooking you! How are you going to respond to that?"
"Alright, alright, I'll admit defeat," Percy said, raising his hands in surrender. "But that's just for the sour stuff. Spicy candy? That shouldn't even exist."
"Your face shouldn't exist," Clarisse quipped, smirking.
Percy sighed in exasperation. "Is that going to be your coback for everything?"
"Only when soone says sothing stupid," Clarisse shot back with a grin.
They spent the rest of the train ride laughing, teasing each other, and devouring sweets, montarily forgetting the looming threats—the monsters, the brewing war, or even the fact that they were demigods. In that brief mont, they were just kids being kids. And that was exactly why Lucian had brought out the snacks in the first place.
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